Do you live in Ann Arbor just outside of the city limits and have a problem with deer but don’t know what to do?

Are your plants and flowers getting decimated on a regular basis? Have the deer lost all fear of humans on your property? Have you tried every trick in the book to stop deer from eating your plants and have thrown your hands in the air due to frustration because nothing seems to work?

Well, if this sounds like you, then I have a solution that you may not have thought about. The solution is inviting a licensed and experienced bow hunter to hunt on your property.

Yes! There are very reputable bow hunters like myself living in the area that would absolutely love to hunt your small or large property in the hopes of harvesting a deer.

Let me make my case by saying that Michigan law demands that any deer harvested by a hunter must be consumed. Secondly, every hunter in the State of Michigan must have passed a Hunters Safety course and can’t get a license without attaining the Hunters Safety Certificate.

Bow hunting is so effective on many levels because most deer are shot within 25 yards. Of course, those ranges can increase up to 50-60 yards, but the vast majority of deer harvested are taken within 20 yards. Also, the technological advances in bow hunting equipment are nothing short of amazing. I have a new Bowtech Experience compound bow that shoots arrows at 305 feet per second, fiber optic sights, carbon arrows and so much more.

This is a win-win situation for the private landowner and the bow hunter for many reasons. First and foremost, the landowner is reducing the herd to a more appropriate carrying capacity. Secondly, the bow hunter is able to fill their freezer with delicious venison.

Other benefits to the landowner include asking the bow hunter for venison for the right to hunt their property. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve been asked by non-hunters for venison.

I live in northeast Ann Arbor and I have to drive all the way to Chelsea to bow hunt in the fall. I’d love nothing better than to hunt in the Ann Arbor area to cut down on my drive time, especially because of the high deer numbers in the Ann Arbor area. Here are some pointers to homeowners considering someone like myself to bow hunt on their property.

First, ask a potential bow hunter for references of past land owners who’ve let them hunt. Hint: If they can’t provide you this information, then you probably shouldn’t let them hunt your property.

Secondly, ask to see their Hunters Safety Certificate and pull a criminal background check at their expense ($25) - not yours. You’ll need their permission to do such a check, but any law-abiding person shouldn’t be opposed to doing this. Remember, they want to come onto your property and not the other way around.

Other things you should firm up with any bow hunter would include:

To allow screw in tree steps or not

To get a "hold harmless" letter at bow hunter’s expense

To make sure only bow hunter enters property and not their 25 friends

To have the bow hunter contact the homeowner prior to every visit if need be

To have the bow hunter pick up trash, if any

To have property owner prepare a letter of permission for the hunter to carry

Whether the hunter can trim small branches to improve a shooting lane

These items are just a few things a property owner can discuss with a potential bow hunter.

There are two final things to remember. First and foremost, the bow hunting season begins Oct. 1 and ends Jan. 1. The firearm season is Nov. 15-30, and it's your call to allow or deny firearm hunting. A hunter can continue to bow hunt during the firearm season if they choose to.